Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Bangla Academy has honored Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman with ‘Bangla Academy Literature Award 2015’ for his significant literary contribution with articles on Rabindranath Tagore, Language Movement, Liberation War and Bangabandhu.
Director General of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan announced his name along with others at a press briefing at the Bangla Academy auditorium in the capital Dhaka on Thursday.
Eleven personalities have been declared recipients for Bangla Academy Shahitya Puroshkar for 2016.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to present the award officially on February 1 at the inaugural ceremony of Ekushey Book Fair.
Amongst others, Altaf Hossain, Shaheen Akhtar, Abul Momen, Moniruzzaman, Abdus Selim, Tajul Mohammad, Faruq Chowdhury, Masum Reza, Sharif Khan, and Sujan Barua are also awarded in different categories.
The BB Governor has dedicated this new award from Bangla Academy to the martyrs in Language Movement and Liberation War of Bangladesh and to the researchers and writers working in these areas.
Dr. Atiur Rahman is a renowned development economist and activist. Since taking charge as Governor BB, Dr. Rahman has taken proactive initiatives promoting the concepts of developmental and humane banking besides the core activities of orthodox central banking.
He has been working unrelentingly towards socio-economic and humanitarian development of the country through research, writing, formulation and implementation of policy and strategy.
His thrusts for inclusive and environmentally sustainable financing have already attained widespread attention and acclaim.
Prior to this, Dr. Rahman has been awarded Sheltech Award (2010) for contribution in financial sector development of Bangladesh, Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque-2011 for contribution to international cooperation towards human progress, Nawab Bahadur Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury National Award (2012) for contribution in the field of banking and finance, World No- Tobacco Day Award (2012) by the World Health Organization (WHO) for significant contribution towards anti-tobacco movements.
In recognition of his research and development practices, he received Honorary Fellowship (2012) by the Bangla Academy and Regulator with a Human Face (2014) by the University of Dhaka.
He has also received Manila based Gusi Peace Prize (2014) in the field of Economics for working for people’s welfare, especially the poor.
He has been awarded the Best Central Bank governor – Asia Pacific, 2015 by The Banker magazine, a Financial Times publication and The Best Central Bank Governor in Asia (2015) by the UK based trade periodical ‘The Emerging Markets’ for his role in channeling credit towards environmentally and socially responsible development projects.
Under his leadership, the BB, the country’s central bank, has recently received the Best Employer Award-2014 for human resources development from Bdjobs.com.
Dr. Rahman also received ‘Dharitri Bangladesh National Award’ for his contribution in protecting nature and environment.

Dr. Rahman, a Senior Research Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) served as a Professor of Economics in the Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka.
He was also a visiting/adjunct professor in a number of universities, both home and abroad.
His PhD thesis “Peasants and Classes” published later as a book by the Oxford University Press is an acclaimed reference book in development research.
Besides development economics, his books on Language Movement, Liberation War, Bangabandhu and Rabindranath Tagore are acclaimed among the readers.
His four volume research publications on the socio-economic aspects of Language Movement, published by the UPL (University Press Limited) are considered as fundamental research works.
His research publications on Liberation War and Bangabandhu are also widely regarded as fundamental readings for the researchers and students.
His books on socio-economic thoughts of Rabindranath Tagore are acknowledged as basic and creative readings.

BBN/SSR/AD